OREANDA-NEWS. On May 21, 2009 President Alexander Lukashenko met with First Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Semashko to receive his report. According to Press Service of the President of the Republic of Belarus, Vladimir Semashko informed the President on the results of the visit of a Belarusian delegation to Prague for participation in the Eastern Partnership Summit on May 7, reported the press-centre of government.by.

Belarus made a significant contribution to the preparation of the final document of the summit, the Declaration, by putting forward the most specific and substantial proposals. Following Belarus’ proposal, all political nuances were taken away from the text of the Declaration, which eliminated the grounds to interpret the initiative as an attempt ‘to be friends against someone’. The Eastern Partnership was recognised open for other countries to participate in it. Belarus’ work to help prepare the final document was appreciated by foreign partners.

According to Vladimir Semashko, the summit discussion was proceeding in a calm and consistent atmosphere, and was not politicized. The summit participants reaffirmed that this European initiative was meant, first of all, to address the issues related to infrastructure development, energy security, free movement of people and easing of visa regulations.

The President stressed that Belarus’ participation in the Eastern Partnership would by no means harm its cooperation within the framework of other projects, in particular, the Belarus-Russia Union State.

Belarus is a country with open economy, and therefore it should stand firmly on several pillars, and be able to trade with both the east and the west.